English Proposal Assignment

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audience to act upon, and the writer must offer support and credible evidence to prove to the audience that the proposal will work. In presenting this information, it is important that the writer be realistic about the practicality of the solution. The writer should offer specific details, the process and costs associated for achieving the solution. Essential to the proposal argument is support, such as data, expert opinion, interviews, and statistics, which should come from the Grand Canyon University library database. The GCU Opposing Viewpoints database can provide reliable articles to support a proposal as well as opposing viewpoints and alternative arguments for rebuttal.

Helpful Hint

You will want to look for evidence/support from academic sources. Look for sources that give data support for the problem and the solution. If costs are involved, be sure to find sources with cost-analysis data along with the benefits of the spending. You also will want to look for sources that discuss alternative solutions as you will want to include alternative solutions and rebuttals to those within your essay.

Strategies for Organization There are various ways to organize a proposal essay, and below is a sample outline. At minimum, a proposal outline will include the problem, the solution, and adequate persuasive justification for the solution.

Proposal Argument Outline

I. Introduction with thesis (problem and solution)

II. Body paragraph describing the problem

A. Support/evidence B. Support/evidence

III. Body paragraph describing the causes of the problem

A. Support/evidence B. Support/evidence

IV. Body paragraph describing the effects of the problem

A. Support/evidence B. Support/evidence

V. The proposed solution

A. Support/evidence B. Support/evidence

VI. Justification for the solution with specific steps involved.

A. Support/evidence B. Support/evidence

VII. Benefits of the solution (with costs analysis)

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A. Support/evidence B. Support/evidence

VIII. Alternative solutions and their shortcomings

A. Support/evidence B. Support/evidence

IX. Conclusion

When organizing a proposal essay, a writer should consider the following:

The introductory paragraph introduces the subject discussed, sets the tone and direction of the paper, and states the thesis. The thesis should state the problem and the solution.

The proposal should give the effects for the solution. What will happen if the change is made?

There should be a connection between the proposal and the solution.

Evidence should support how the proposal will be achieved.

Discuss alternative ways the problem could be solved and then argue why this proposal is the best way to solve the problem.

A costs analysis is important to include if the change will require funding.

The conclusion should wrap up the topic, conclude the proposal, and call the reader to action.

A proposal essay focused on overcrowded elementary school classrooms might start out with an outline with the following information:

I. Introduction discussing education. Thesis: Arizona elementary school classrooms have too many kids in them, which hinders learning; therefore, the Arizona legislature should pass a law limiting the number of students to 22 per classroom.

II. The problem: classes are overcrowded.

A. Statistical source

B. Expert opinion

III. The cause: to save money.

A. History of educational budget cuts

B. How history has led until now

IV. The effects: less effective learning, discipline issues, teachers overwhelmed

A. Case studies and other empirical evidence

B. Expert opinion

V. Solution: limit class sizes.

A. Other states/districts that have done so

B. How it would work

VI. Justification: better student test scores and happier teachers

A. Success in other states

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B. Evidence from other studies

VII. Benefits of the solution

A. Cost analysis: Would have to make cuts in other areas of the budget to pay for it or raise taxes.

B. Worth the costs in the long run because education improves

C. Other cases in which this solution has worked and been worth the cost

VIII. Alternative solutions and their shortcomings

A. Keep large classes but add an aide

B. Keep large classes and use the money for paying teachers more

IX. Conclusion

Using this outline, the writer of this essay might go on to develop an introduction and thesis statement like this:

Decades ago, public elementary schools in Arizona were limited in size. Fast-forward to the Great Recession when budgets needed to be slashed; education saw many cuts, which forced schools to lay-off teachers and increase class sizes. Today, some elementary classes have as many as 35 students. This can cause frustration for the teacher, discipline issues, and less one-on-one help for students, all of which ultimately hurts the learning process. Arizona elementary school classrooms have too many kids in them, hindering learning; therefore, the Arizona legislature should pass a law limiting the number of students to 22 per classroom.

 

Example Proposal Essay

A Proposed Solution for the Black Market

Faced with desperate circumstances, individuals turn to the black market organ trade for an opportunity to live. Because of a shortage of human organ donors, thousands of people are placed on an organ waiting list. An average of 18 people die each day awaiting an organ transplant (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2014). An individual’s only way to stave off death is to find an available organ donor, which can be done by turning to the black market organ trade; however, according to Section 274e of the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 (2010), the sale and transfer of human organs is prohibited. The black market carries the opportunity to save individuals’ lives but in doing so, many lives are taken advantage of. Iran is the only country that has eliminated organ waiting lists and the shortage of organ donors by legalizing the sale of human organs. By doing so, individuals have a legal opportunity to purchase organs from government controlled agencies and regulations. Though the black market will not vanish all together, the decreased use of it reduces the number of individuals who are exploited by this illegal trade. It is time for countries to follow the footsteps of Iran by legalizing the sale of human organs to free individuals from organ waiting lists and exploitation while providing a reduction in the use of the black market organ trade.

The shortage of human organ donors results in waiting lists containing the names of thousands of people, which allows the black market to grow. By legalizing the sale and transfer of human organs, the shortage of human organ donors can be eliminated. Having

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individuals donate for altruistic reasons only will not boost the number of organ donors. Payment following the sale of one’s organs can be a motive for some to donate their organs. In providing a legal alternative, the usage of the black market has potential to decrease. With a decrease in the black market organ trade, fewer individuals of all financial standings will be exploited. The black market organ trade flourishes because a legal opportunity is not provided for individuals in need of an organ transplant. In Iran, people have the opportunity to apply to Dialysis and Transplant Patients Association, a nonprofit organization (Tabarrock, 2010, para 11). The organization then matches the patient to an available organ donor, after which the organ transplantation can take place. By having organizations regulate organ donor applicants and recipients, there should not be a reason for endless waiting lists. The health and compatibility of the organ will be taken into deeper consideration than those organs transplanted through the black market. Legalizing the sale of human organs can provide a reduction in the black market organ trade while better circumstances are provided for both the organ donor and the recipient.

The legalization of the sale of human organs will cut organ donor waiting lists and decrease the exploitation of both parties involved. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, every 10 minutes an individual is added to the waiting list and an average of 79 people will receive an organ transplant each day (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2014). These numbers show that the shortage of organ donors is a problem that needs to be resolved as soon as possible. If the sale of human organs were to be legalized, the waiting lists would not need to exist. By providing payment for donated organs, more donors would be available. Having an increased availability of organ donors allows individuals to receive the proper care and medical procedures necessary in an orderly fashion without spending months on an endless waiting list.

Through the existence of the black market, both the organ donor and the recipient of the organ are exploited. By legalizing the sale of human organs, laws and regulations will provide boundaries for the industry. In an illegal industry, the well-being of both parties is not considered. Nawaraj Pariyar, a victim of organ traffickers, stated that the traffickers told him to say that the transplant recipient was his sister (Pokharel, 2014). He is one of thousands of people who are exploited by traffickers whose main intent is to gain financial profit. It is through regulations and thoroughness that the well-being of both parties is taken into consideration. In the black market that main focus is how much profit can be made from the donor and the purchaser of the organ. Legalizing the right to sell human organs carries potential to save thousands of lives.

Iran is the only country that has legalized the sale of human organs. In an effort to prevent organ transplant tourism, both parties must be of the same nationality (Griffin, 2007, para. 10). The government provides compensation for organ donors. Money plays an important role in the abundance of available organ donors. Through the involvement of government-controlled agencies, individuals receive necessary medical care during the organ transplantation and recovery. The system established by Iran is one that should be used as a model for other countries. The black market organ trade treats both the organ donor and recipient with manipulation, disregard, and exploitation. With government involvement and regulations, individuals are treated with dignity during the process of organ transplantation.

To address the opposition, even by legalizing the sale of human organs, the black market will not disappear into thin air. People will always find a way to abuse the system; however, the legalization of the sale of human organs holds potential to decrease the use of the black market. Many individuals are manipulated and taken advantage of by human organ

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traffickers. The manipulation can cause potential harm to both the organ donor and recipient. According to scholar Stephen Wilkinson, “At minimum … a market should require that vendors give their informed consent to the sale of their kidneys, that they not be coerced into selling their kidneys by a third party and that they receive adequate post- operative care.” (Wilkinson, 2011). Human traffickers are out in search of financial profit, disregarding the lives that are affected. Though many disagree with the legalization of the sale of human organs because of the thought that the impoverished will be at higher risk of exploitation, it is not so. The transplanted organ controls the life of the organ recipient. Physicians should review the compatibility of both the donor and recipient’s blood to decrease the risk of organ rejection (John Hopkins Medicine. n.d.). The incompatibility of the organs can deter the performance of the transplanted organ. When using the black market, one does not know the compatibility, performance, and sufficiency of the organ. Therefore, because of this lack of medical screening, the recipient is exploited as well.

All in all, the lives of thousands of people are at stake. Each day people perish due to the shortage of human organ donors and the ban on the sale and purchase of human organs. Legalizing the sale of human organs would provide thousands of individuals a legal and regulated life-saving opportunity. Because the sale of human organs is prohibited in the United States, the black market flourishes in the perfect environment. Traffickers have the ideal opportunity to create profit off of vulnerable and desperate people from both parties involved. The health and well-being of the participants is disregarded. Through the legalization of the sale of human organs, individuals have a much safer and trusted outlet. The U.S. government needs to take control of the black market organ trade and save the lives from the exploitation and disregard from human traffickers. There are many individuals who die each day because there is an insufficient number of organ donors available. Providing payment for organ donors gives more motives to donate one’s organs. The precious lives of people can and should be preserved through the legalization of the sale of human organs resulting in a decreased need for the black market.

References U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2014). The need is real: Data.

http://www.organdonor.gov/about/data.html National Organ Transplant Act of 1984, 42 U.S.C § 274e. (2010). Taborrock, A. (2010). Tackling the organ shortage. The Wall Street Journal.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703481004574646233272990474 Pokharel, S. (2014). Nepal’s organ trail: How traffickers steal kidneys.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/26/world/asia/freedom-project-nepals-organ-trail/ John Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Comprehensive transplant center: Blood compatibility.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/transplant/programs/kidney/incompatible/blood.ht ml

Griffin, A. (2007). Kidneys on demand. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 334(7592), 502-505. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1819484/

Wilkinson, S. (2011). The sale of human organs. In E. Zalata (Ed.) Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/organs-sale/

Strategies for Writing When writing a proposal essay, there are a few elements to keep in mind:

Skeptical audiences: If the audience is skeptical of the problem or solution, the writer should provide ample evidence to cover those concerns. Show why the problem really is a problem and why this solution is the best. Examining

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the argument from a skeptical point of view can help to predict possible objections.

Style and tone: The tone of a proposal essay should be formal and academic and yet have a sense of authority. An overly emotional tone or a condescending tone could alienate the reader. As Zinsser (2001) noted, “If what you write is ornate, or pompous, or fuzzy, that’s how you’ll be perceived. The reader has no other choice” (p. 175).

Ethos, pathos, and logos: The majority of proposal arguments should employ logos, but, if used properly, pathos may be beneficial to certain problems and audience. Using support to prove the proposal is necessary and feasible will aid in establishing credibility for the writer.

Weaknesses in proposal arguments: One of the most common reasons for a proposal to fail is because the writer has not considered all aspects of how the proposal will affect the audience. Consider carefully how the proposal will cost the audience, figuratively and literally. Will the audience lose reputation? Will there be an emotional toll? Consider the financial costs and define how the costs will be covered or recouped; doing so will strengthen a proposal argument.

Finding common ground: There can often be multiple solutions to a problem. If the audience is predisposed to an alternate solution, offering common ground can help bridge the differences and offer leverage to the argument.

Proposal Argument Essay Checklist Catchy and engaging introduction

Thesis with problem and solution

Body paragraph describing the problem with support/evidence

Body paragraph describing the causes and the effects with support/evidence

The proposed solution and a justification for the solution with specific steps involved with support/evidence

Benefits of the solution with cost analysis and support/evidence

Alternative solutions and their shortcomings with support/evidence

Conclusion that wraps up the topic and calls the reader to action for the change/proposal

Formal, academic tone that is not overly emotional

Essay is organized in a logical manner

Essay has been revised for organization, clarity, and logic

Essay has been edited/proofread for grammar, spelling, punctuation, in-text citations, and a reference list

Conclusion Proposals requesting an audience accept some type of change or take an action are used extensively, from proposing a business venture to creating laws. In academic writing,

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proposal essays define a problem and give a solution to the problem. When writing a proposal essay, it is important to keep these points in mind:

Define the problem and the purpose for the solution.

State a thesis that clearly identifies the problem and the proposed solution.

Provide a solution that is practical, realistic, and beneficial to the audience.

Support the problem, the solution, and the justification for the solution with logical arguments and relevant sources.

Consider the costs of the solution and how they will affect the audience.

Provide clearly defined steps to reach the proposed solution.

The organizational structure of the proposal essay can vary, but any outline should include an introduction with thesis, body paragraphs with support, support for the justification, costs-analysis, alternative solutions with rebuttals, and a conclusion.

Key Terms Proposal Argument: Asking someone to consider and accept some type of change with a call for action.

References Duh-Leong, C. (2014). Banning soda machines in schools will reduce obesity. In R. Espejo

(Ed.), At issue. Should junk food be sold in school? Greenhaven Press. (Original work published 2012)

Hillocks, G. (1995). Teaching writing as a reflective practice. Teachers College.

Metallo, J. (2014). Banning junk food in schools is not effective. In R. Espejo (Ed.), At issue. Should junk food be sold in school? Greenhaven Press. (Original work published 2013)

Zinsser, W. (2001). On writing well. HarperCollins